TIA/EIA 942 is the telecommunications infrastructure standard for data centers. The list below shows its purpose: Show
Data centers support a wide range of transmission protocols. Some of these protocols impose distance restrictions that are shorter than those imposed by this standard. When applying specific transmission protocols, consult standards, regulations, equipment vendors, and system service suppliers for applicability, limitations, and ancillary requirements. Consider consolidating standardized and proprietary cabling into a single structured cabling system. The ANSI/TIA/EIA-942 standard specifies:
>> Data Center Cabling InfrastructureThe basic elements of the data center cabling system structure are the following:
>> Hot and Cold AislesCabinets and racks shall be arranged in an alternating pattern, with fronts of cabinets/racks facing each other in a row to create “hot” and “cold” aisles. Cold aisles are in front of racks and cabinets. If there is an access floor, power distribution cables should be installed here under the access floor on the slab. Hot aisles are behind racks and cabinets. If there is an access floor, cable trays for telecommunications cabling should be located under the access floor in the hot aisles. A minimum of 1m (3 feet) of front clearance shall be provided for installation of equipment. A front clearance of 1.2m (4 feet) is preferable to accommodate deeper equipment. A minimum of 0.6m (2 feet) of rear clearance shall be provided for service access at the rear of racks and cabinets. A rear clearance of 1m (3 feet) is preferable. Some equipment may require service clearances of greater than 1m (3 feet). >> Horizontal CablingThe horizontal cabling is the portion of the telecommunications cabling system that extends from the mechanical termination in the equipment distribution area to either the horizontal cross-connect in the horizontal distribution area or the main cross-connect in the main distribution area. The horizontal cabling includes horizontal cables, mechanical terminations, and patch cords or jumpers, and may include a zone outlet or a consolidation point in the zone distribution area. The following partial listing of common services and systems should be considered when the horizontal cabling is designed:
>> Backbone CablingThe function of the backbone cabling is to provide connections between the main distribution area, the horizontal distribution area and entrance facilities in the data center cabling system. Backbone cabling consist of the backbone cables, main cross-connects, horizontal cross-connects, mechanical terminations and patch cord or jumper used for backbone-to-backbone cross-connection. >> Recognized Cabling Media for Horizontal and Backbone ApplicationsRecognized cables, associated connecting hardware, jumpers, patch cords, equipment cords and zone area cords shall meet all applicable requirements specified in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-C.2 and ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-C.3.
>> RedundancyData centers that are equipped with diverse telecommunications facilities may be able to continue their function under catastrophic conditions that would otherwise interrupt the data center’s telecommunications service. This standard includes four tiers relating to various levels of availability of the data center facility infrastructure. The tiers are related to research conducted by the Uptime Institute, which define four tiers of performance as defined in the following table. Providing redundant cross-connect areas and pathways that are physically separated can increase the reliability of the communications infrastructure. It is common for data centers to have multiple access providers providing services, redundant routers, redundant core distribution and edge switches. Although this network topology provides a certain level of redundancy, the duplication in services and hardware alone does not ensure that single points of failure have been eliminated. >> Purpose of the ISO 11801:2002 StandardThe International Standard provides:
The International Standard specifies a multivendor cabling system which may be implemented with material from single and multiple sources, and is related to:
Generic cabling defined within this International Standard:
The International Standard specifies a generic cabling system that is anticipated to have a usable life in excess of 10 years.
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents more than 400 companies that enable high-speed communications networks and accelerate next-generation ICT innovation. TIA’s voluntary and industry-driven standards establish protocols that ensure reliable, quality communications networks and services. They are broadly used by the information communication technology community. The ANSI/TIA-942 is often chosen for a number of factors including; Data centers can be reviewed and certified for conformity to the requirements of the ANSI/TIA-942 standard. Companies today rely heavily on IT for the delivery of business-critical services often directly to the end consumer. It is therefore vital that the mission-critical Data Center is designed, maintained and operated with high-availability and efficiency in mind. When building and operating a data center, company wants to ensure that it has been designed and built based on globally accepted standards, yet have the flexibility to adapt to the business requirements. Mostly data center operator/owners chose the ANSI/TIA-942 standard when it comes to designing and building a data center. Rating Level: ANSI/TIA-942 describes four Rating levels in which data centers can be classified. Below are the high level descriptions of each Rating level. Detailed specifications are given in the ANSI/TIA-942 standard. BSI can support the organisations, who are having mission critical data centres with their expertise in the initial Gap Assessment as per TIA Standard. This Gap Assessment can help Organisations to improve their readiness with respect to Data centres all the aspects i.e. Telecommunications, Architecture, Mechanical and Electrical. Post improvement, BSI also fully equipped to support Organisations to carry out the further subsequent audits to ensure that organisations are having complete readiness for the Compliance for the TIA Standard. |